Does 'Twilight' Suck the Brains Out of Teens?

By Martha Brockenbrough with Lorie Ann Grover
MSN Cinemama

If 2007 was the year of the boy wizard -- with the final "Harry Potter" book and a movie coming out in the same month -- 2008 is the year of the vampire.

More specifically, a vampire named Edward, who literally sparkles as the romantic hero of a four-book series that has become the obsession of teen girls (and many of their mothers) nationwide.

Welcome to the "Twilight" zone.

In case you still haven't heard of the series by Stephenie Meyer, you're about to. On Aug. 2, the fourth installment, "Breaking Dawn," hits bookstores. The series tells the story of Bella, a teenage girl living in Forks, Wash., who falls in love with one of the town's resident vampires. Bella would trade her soul to be undead happily ever after; Edward forcefully resists such a thing.

Across the country, 4,000 stores will open at midnight, just so those sweaty, trembling fans can lose a night's sleep finding out whether the vampire finally bites the girl after 1,000-plus pages of extremely chaste necking.

And then, when the movie opens Dec. 12, the whole thing can start over again.

There's no question that the "Twilight" series, which has dominated best-seller lists, is a pop culture phenomenon. Ask a teen girl if she prefers Edward or Jacob, a teen werewolf, and you are likely to get an essay in response.

The question is: Are these books a worthy obsession for our teen girls? And should you let your own daughter read them and see the movie?

To answer this, I turned to Lorie Ann Grover, mother of two teen girls, author of several books, and co-founder of readergirlz, an organization that exists to support teens as they read, reflect on literature, and reach out to their communities in response to what they've learned.

Lorie Ann is a fan of the "Twilight" series. And, even though I know I'm taking my life into my hands by disagreeing, I'm going to say that there are better things for teen girls to be reading and watching.

Lorie Ann Grover Gives the Case for 'Twilight'

I call him the hottest guy in modern literature. The hottest! He's why I read the entire "Twilight" series straight through twice. He's why my fellow author friend Justina Chen Headley and I dissected "Twilight" together, each and every page.

And he's why my husband picked up the work and read it himself. He had to know who his wife and daughters were raving about! The hottest guy in modern lit is Edward Cullen, and he sparkles.

So what truly is Edward's appeal? Why are girls and women worldwide, and Bella, swooning? Because he is our sensitive superhero. First, consider his perfect physical form. Did you hear me say perfect? Basically Michelangelo's David come to life. Add to that physique smoldering eyes and superpowers.

Now, looks aside, consider how appealing it is that Edward is driven to wit's end by the scent of Bella. In a society consumed with smelling good, Edward finds Bella without the aid of any scent but her own.

Note how completely enamored Edward is of Bella. He actually watches her sleep. As an infatuated parent watches over an infant, Edward watches Bella. He sees her weaknesses and finds her humanity endearing. He asks endless questions to know her. What are her likes and dislikes, her past and future hopes? He listens to every single word.

It is easy to see that Edward embodies complete safety. Often he holds Bella and rocks her as a father would. And yet, his kisses stop her breath and heart, and he never pressures her for sex. She pursues him. Edward has raised the standard for all boyfriends.

Into that perfect mix, pour danger, that alluring trademark of any great hero, just enough for tension to vibrate. We worry with Bella over her safety as Edward's lips glide down her neck. We fret as his eyes darken and he lusts for her blood. Finally we cheer as he denies himself because of his passion for her.